School News- 8/27/2025
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National Beta Schools of Merit CCS-Leland and CCS-Whiteville have been named 2024-2025 National Beta Schools of Merit by the National Beta Club, the nation’s largest independent student honor society. The award honors Beta Clubs that include members from all eligible grade levels and reflect a strong commitment to academic excellence, leadership, and service. Both schools also achieved top national rankings at the 2025 National Beta Convention in Orlando. CCS-Whiteville’s Elementary Robotics team (made up of Adam Ahmad, Caleb Hobbs, Hunter Thomas, Ryan Martin, and John Hudson Richardson) placed tenth, while CCS-Leland had two students place individually. Jace Granda placed tenth in 6th Grade U.S. History, and Alex Eaton placed ninth in 7th Grade U.S. History. “At our school, we strive to cultivate leadership, service, and academic excellence. National Beta embodies all of that and more,” said Laurie Benton, headmaster of CCS-Leland. “I couldn’t be prouder of our Beta Club students. Their achievements reflect not only their dedication and character, but also the spirit of our entire school community.” Kimberly Patrick, headmaster of CCS-Whiteville, echoed Benton’s sentiment. “Our Beta Club has continued to shine on the national level, and I am so proud of them. These students truly represent what CCS-America is all about.” Learn More About National Beta Club *************
Staff Spotlight: Andrea Vitolo The Roger Bacon Academy is dedicated to internal growth and promotion. Our leadership works to recognize talent, nurture potential, and promote from within. Andrea Vitolo’s journey illustrates this commitment. Her dedication and drive have taken her from the classroom to a key role in the RBA Corporate Office. Andrea began her journey at RBA in August 2015 when she joined CCS-Leland as a substitute teacher, primarily supporting 3rd grade classrooms. Just one month later, she accepted a full-time position as a Kindergarten Teaching Assistant. She remained in this role for several years, building a strong foundation in early childhood education and experiencing firsthand the impact of an RBA education. In July 2021, Andrea advanced to the position of Kindergarten Interventionist, where she provided targeted support for students needing additional academic assistance. Her commitment to student success and her growing skill set did not go unnoticed. In November of the same year, she continued her professional growth by joining the RBA Corporate Office as a Finance Assistant. In this role, she continued to expand her knowledge and gained hands-on experience in financial operations. In 2023, Andrea was promoted to Payroll and Benefits Coordinator, her current role. She now manages payroll processing and employee benefits administration for RBA staff. Andrea’s journey is a testament to both her hard work and RBA’s strong culture of supporting and promoting talent from within. This month, Andrea celebrates ten years at CCS-America and RBA. We are proud to have her as a member of the RBA family and look forward to all she will accomplish in the years to come. *************
CCS-America Dresses for Success! CCS-America schools have Dress for Success Days throughout the year to help students build the habit of dressing in a nice and professional fashion. While participation is optional, these days are designed to give students the opportunity to experience the benefits of dressing professionally. Research shows that dressing professionally can boost confidence, improve performance, and strengthen communication skills. Dressing professionally is a lifelong skill, especially in situations where it is important to make a good first impression. Students will carry this habit into college interviews, job interviews, business meetings, and many other future opportunities. Students will have several chances to wear their Dress for Success outfits throughout the year. The first Dress for Success Day is tomorrow, August 28th. We encourage all students to participate! Upcoming Dress for Success Days: September 18th October 30th November 25th December 18th Visit the links below to get your student’s Dress for Success items: *************
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Starting the School Year StrongWe’ve had a great first two weeks back to school! Students across all grade levels have returned with energy, enthusiasm, and a determination to learn. They are already working hard and learning new things. Middle school elective courses are underway, fourth graders have begun learning Latin, and kindergarteners are adjusting and getting used to their new routines.We are proud of how smoothly this transition back to school has gone and are excited to continue and add to last year’s great academic accomplishments. Thank you to our outstanding staff, students, and families for making the start of the new school year such a success.Check out what our students have been up to so far:
Alumni Spotlight: Savannah-Grace JonesMeet Savannah-Grace Jones, proud alumna and valedictorian of the CCS-Whiteville Class of 2017. The daughter of State Representative Brenden Jones and longtime CCS-Whiteville substitute Angela Jones, Savannah-Grace graduated first in her class from South Columbus High School in 2021. She went on to earn a Bachelor of Science in Nursing with honors from Campbell University, where she was also granted early acceptance into their medical school.While at Campbell, Savannah-Grace emerged as a strong campus leader and advocate. She held various roles within the Campbell Student Nurses’ Association, the BSN Student Council, the Student Government Association, and the Campbell Healer Collaborative, among others. She notably founded the Campbell University chapter of Young Women for America. In recognition of her outstanding leadership, she was honored at graduation with the prestigious Dr. Nancy Duffy Leadership Award.Savannah-Grace will soon begin her nursing career in the ICU at McLeod Seacoast Medical Center while continuing to pursue her academic and professional goals. She attributes her passion for learning and leadership to her faith, her family, and the strong academic foundation she received at CCS-Whiteville.”My teachers taught me that hard work pays off,” said Savannah-Grace. “They showed me that integrity matters, and that the pursuit of excellence is worth every ounce of effort.”We are proud to have Savannah-Grace Jones as a part of the RBA Alumni family!At last month’s RBA/CCS-America staff orientation, Savannah-Grace was invited to give a speech to all staff members, including her former headmaster, teachers, and coaches.Click the link below to watch her full speech about how her RBA education and teachers shaped and inspired her journey:
CCS-America Incentive AwardsCCS-America teachers and grade level teams across all campuses work very hard to make sure their students are successful. They give them care, attention, and all the tools students need so they can reach their highest potential. Each year, CCS-America recognizes the grade level teams that have reached various milestones, including 95% attendance, high growth in English, high growth in Math, and high growth in History.For each merit award earned, the grade team receives a financial award and streamer to attach to their rally flag. Congratulations to the 2024-2025 Incentive Award Winners and to all of our incredible teams of teachers!Click the links below to see the awarded teams from each campus:
